ATS: Frederic Vervisch Oschersleben summary

Vervisch close to victory in Oschersleben
The problems with the OPC Challenge engine Frederic Vervisch encountered
during the season opener of the ATS Formula 3 Cup persisted in
Oschersleben, where the second round of th championship was ...

Vervisch close to victory in Oschersleben

The problems with the OPC Challenge engine Frederic Vervisch encountered
during the season opener of the ATS Formula 3 Cup persisted in
Oschersleben, where the second round of th championship was held.
Frederics Swiss Racing Team worked feverishly to find a solution,
without effective results however.

Qualifying promised to be very difficult. "Even though we had a lack
of power, we were in front until the session was neutralised due to
different incidents. I wasn't able to get the most out of my tyres after
that and this resulted in a seventh and sixth place on the grid for both
races", said Vervisch.

Like in Hockenheim, Frederic made fantastic starts, but the Opel engine
seemed to be a real handicap during the races. In the first race, Fred
was able to finish fifth.

In race 2, Frederic got a better result. At the start, he overtook
three cars and when the leaders pushed each other off the track, the
21-year-old Belgian took the lead. And he did well. He was able to hold
off Johnny Cecotto, the son of the former motorcycle world champion,
until the penultimate lap. Lapping a slower car, Fred was forced off the
track into the dirt and lost the lead to Cecotto. Nevertheless, Frederic
finished in a strong second place.

Vervisch concluded: "We minimised the damage again in Oschersleben. Like
Cecotto, I scored twelve valuable points and no other driver did better
this weekend. Looking at the situation with the engine, this is just
great."

In the points standings Frederic climbed from seventh to fourth place.
He is now only six points behind the leader.

On May 23rd and 24th, Frederic races again in the ATS F3 Cup. This time
on the Nurburgring in course of the 24-hour race.